File:ImmigrationChinese-lores.jpg

Certificate of residence from the Chinese Exclusion files. In accordance with the Chinese exclusion laws (1882–1943), which were passed to restrict Chinese immigration to the United States, the Immigration and Naturalization Service barred Chinese from entering the United States between 1882 and 1924; the laws were designed especially to exclude laborers. Chinese residents of the United States who wished to visit China had to make formal application to the INS and establish their identity and occupation (students and merchants were exceptions to excluded occupations) to ensure they would be able to reenter the United States.

File history

Certificate of residence from the Chinese Exclusion files. In accordance with the Chinese exclusion laws (1882–1943), which were passed to restrict Chinese immigration to the United States, the Immigration and Naturalization Service barred Chinese from